Apparatus for continuous excavation of tunnels

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for continuous excavation of tunnels characterized in that: the front portion of a channel-shaped main structure of the apparatus, having a U-shaped cross section and consisting of side plates and a bottom plate, is allowed to advance to a confronting position to the facing of the tunnel; a drilling device freely movable on the upper part of the apparatus is advanced along the length of the main structure so that holes are bored in the facing of the tunnel to accommodate explosives; after detonation of the explosives, a mucking device provided on the front part of the main structure removes the resulting muck rearwardly; conveyors transport the muck through the main structure; and the main structure is again advanced forwardly for further mucking and drilling holes in the facing of the tunnel.

lnventors Takao Shimada Kanagawa-Ken; Tsutae Honma, Tokyo-to; Mamoru Minemoto, Tokyo-to; Hiroshi Kinbara, Gifu-ken, Japan Appl. No. 806,491

Filed Mar. 12. 1969 Patented Apr. 13, 1971 Assignee Nippon Kokuyu Tetsudo Tokyo-T0, Japan Priority Mar. 15, 1968 Japan 43/ 16508 APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS EXCAVATION OF TUNNELS 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 299/64, 299/13, 299/18 Int. Cl E21c 35/20, E01 g 3/06 Field of Search 299/13, 18, 64, 67

References Cited Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Attorneys-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato ABSTRACT: A method and apparatus for continuous excavation of tunnels characterized in that: the front portion of a channel-shaped main structure of the apparatus, having a U-shaped cross section and consisting of side plates and a bottom plate, is allowed to advance to a confronting position to the facing of the tunnel; a drilling device freely movable on the upper part of the apparatus is advanced along the length of the main structure so that holes are bored in the facing of the tunnel to accommodate explosives; after detonation of the explosives, a mucking device provided on the front part of the main structure removes the resulting muck rearwardly; conveyors transport the muck through the main structure; and the main structure is again advanced forwardly for further mucking and drilling holes in the facing of the tunnel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the field of tunnel excavation, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus used for practicing the method.

Heretofore, various methods and apparatuses have been proposed for the excavationof tunnels. When the tunnel is to be excavated, for instance, through a rocky geological structure, holes are drilled in the face of the tunnel under construction by means of, for instance, a so-called drill jumbo, explosives are inserted into the holes thus drilled, the explosives are detonated, and they result is removed by mucking devices andftransported backward and out on carriages.

Since the conventional mucking devices are all of the kind by which the muckfis dug by a bucket and thrown out backward, these apparatuses are accompanied by difiiculties as listed below.

l. Too much noise and dust accompany the mucking operation. Y

2. A considerable length of time is required for digging up the muck.

3. The mucking operation is not continuous, hence not efficient.-

4. During the mucking operation, further drilling of holes cannot be undertaken.

5. Considerable wear occurs in these mucking machines.

Recently, tunnel excavation methods utilizing more mechanized apparatus, such as shield or mechanical boring machines, have been developed and utilized widely. However, the shield method cannot be effective in rocky earth structure, and the mechanical boring machine tends to be excessively expensive and limited in application to specific cases.

For this reason, most of the tunnel excavations are still carried out by the conventional method employing the mucking machine in spite of the above-described drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to provide a novel tunnel excavation method and apparatus whereby the above-mentioned drawbacks are substantially overcome.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel construction of thetunnel excavation apparatus which is economical in its initial cost, efficient in its operation, and versatile in its application to various kinds of earth structures which are frequently encountered.

Still another object of this invention is,to provide a novel tunneling method and apparatus for practicing the method, whereby the excavation of a tunnel can be carried out continuously without dead (interrupting) time.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a novel tunnel excavation method and apparatus whereby the muck produced by blasting with an explosive can be transported backward by means of a device which somewhat resembles a dustpan and conveyor combination.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus whereby the above-described muck can be removed with less noise and dust than in the case of the ordinary mucking machine.

These and other objects of the present invention can be achieved by a novel method comprising the steps of: advancing the front portion of a channel-shaped main structure of a tunneling apparatus having a U-shaped cross section and consisting of two side plates and a bottom plate, to a confronting position to the face of the tunnel, advancing a drilling device supported freely movably on the upper part of the apparatus along the length of the main structure so that holes are bored in the face of the tunnel to accommodate explosives, detonating the explosives, removing the muck produced by the explosion by means of a mucking device provided at the front part of the main structure, transporting the muck on conveyors through the main structure, and

advancing again the main structure forwardly for further mucking and drilling of holes in the face of the tunnel.

In another aspect of this invention, the above-described and other objects of this invention can be achieved by a novel device comprising: a channel-shaped main structure of the device having a U shaped cross section and consisting of two side plates and a bottom plate, rail mounted on said two side plates of the main structure, a carriage supported on said rails and movable in the longitudinal direction of said main structure, a drilling device provided to project on the front end of the carriage facing the face of the tunnel, mucking devices provided at the front end of this device facing the face of the tunnel, and a transporting device extending inside the main structure in the longitudinal direction thereof for transporting the muck rearwardly.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation in longitudinal section showing an example of a tunnel excavation device constituting a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of front part of the main structure of the tunnel excavation device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an automotive device used in the tunnel excavation deviceaccording to one aspect of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As is clearly seen in the drawing, a tunnel excavation device according to one aspect of this invention has a main structure generally designated by A and having a channel-shaped cross section consisting of two side plates and a bottom plate. The main structure A is further divided into three blocks I, II and III which may be connected together as more fully described hereinafter. An automotive device such as a crawler 1 and a plurality of conveyors 2, 3 and 4 are included in the main structure A, and a scoop shoe 5 and a pair of scraping plates 7a, 7b capable of digging into and removing the muck (described hereinbefore), by means of hydraulic devices, onto the conveyors 2, 3 and 4 are provided at the forward part of the foremost block I of the main structure A.

Above the conveyor 2, a plurality of protecting plates 8a, 8b, 8c are supported by springs 9a, 9b, and 9c, respectively. Of these protective plates, only the plat\ 3a is made swingable around a supporting shaft 10 upwardly by means of a hydraulic cylinder 11 so that it may be lowered at the time when an explosive is detonated. A hydraulic jack 12 is located in front of this excavation device for lifting the scoop side 5, and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders 6 are provided to operate the scraping plates 7a and 7b.

As mentioned above, the three blocks I, II and III of the main structure A of this tunnel excavation apparatus can be connected together by means of connecting rods 13, 13, and by properly operating the automotive device 1, the whole assembly of the main structure A can be caused to crawl forwardly. Inside of the block III, rails for supporting carriages 15, 15, are laid, and the muck transported by the conveyor t is thereby transferred to the carriages 15, 15 running on the rails 14.

On both sides of the U-shaped main structure A, at the upper edges thereof, other rails 16 are provided, and a carriage B including means for clamping to the main structure A is supported on the rails 16. On the carriage B, a drilling device C having an arm 18 is mounted. The arm 18 can be rotated by rotating means 17. When the arm 18 is rotated and the hydraulic cylinders 19, 20 are operated suitably, the direction and the position of the drill 21 on the drilling device C can be varied as desired.

In the carriage B, there is also provided movable means 23 which can be driven in forward and backward direction of the main structure A and can be clamped at a desired position. On the movable means 23, a backhoe D is so mounted that it is swingable in a horizontal plane by means of a hydraulic device (not shown) and also swingable in a vertical plane by means of a hydraulic cylinder 24. The total length of the backhoe can be extended or contracted by means of another hydraulic means, and a hoe 25 at the front end of the backhoe D can be pivotally moved about a transverse axis under the action of still another hydraulic cylinder 26.

Accordingly, the muck in front of the main structure A of the tunnel excavation device can be scraped into the block 1 by means of the backhoe D and other members as will be described hereinafter.

A winch 27 is provided at the rear of the carriage B, which can be utilized for miscellaneous kinds of work.

The operation of the excavation apparatus, according to one aspect of this invention, will now be described.

In the initial stage, the foremost end-of the main structure A is placed at the nearest possible position to the face of the tunnel, with the scraping plates 70, 7b swung open as indicated in FIG. 2. The carriage B is advanced as shown, and holes are drilled in the face of the tunnel by means of the drilling device C. Explosive devices are inserted into the holes, and the carriage B is retracted to the upper part of the block ll, the protecting plate 8a being lowered, and all operating power sources a turned off. All of the operating personnel are moved to shelter, and the explosive devices are detonated. Then the muck which has fallen and is between the facing of the tunnel and the forward end of the excavation device ,must be removed and transported to the rear.

To do this, the power switch is first closed, the protecting plate 8a is opened upward, and the muck is scraped into the block I of the excavation device by means of the backhoe D. When the heap of the muck has been reduced, the whole assembly of the main structure A is advanced with the aid of the automotive device 1, and the muck is further scraped into the block I by the scoop shoe 5. During this operation, some kind of muck which cannot be scraped into the dustpanshaped main structure A merely by the advance of the structure A, can be scraped also by means of the backhoe D. The conveyor is appropriately designed so that, when the conveyor is extended over the two blocks, no trouble is caused by the crawling advancement of the main structure A.

It should be noted that, during this muck removing operation, drilling of holes for the explosive devices may be started from the portion of the facing where the muck has been removed. After the completion of drilling, the explosive devices are charged and blasted. The muck thus created is again removed in the same manner as described above, and the main structure of the excavating device is again advanced.

Although the initial cost of this excavation apparatus is somewhat higher than that of the conventional mucking machine widely used, the operational efficiency of the apparatus according to the invention is far superior. Moreover, the above-described high initial cost is still considerably less than that of the previously described mechanical boring machine, and it is highly suitable for excavations of tunnels through areas wherein the geological structure is highly complicated.

We claim:

1. An excavating apparatus comprising: means defining an elongated channel assembly advanceable along an excavation site having a leading edge and a trailing edge; conveying means disposed within said channel assembly for conveying material from said leading edge to said trailing edge; material loading means for loading material onto said conveying means comprising a scoop shoe connected to a base portion of said channel assembly at said leading edge operative to scoop material thereon during advancement of said channel assembly, a pair of scraper plates pivotally connected to respective side portions of said channel assembly at said leading edge pivotable to an open position and a closed position cooperative with said scoop shoe to load material onto said conveying means, and means for effecting pivotal movement of said scraper plates between said open and closed positions to effect loading of material disposed on said scoop shoe onto said conveying means; and means for advancing said channel assembly along an excavation site.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1; including a plurality of protecting plates positioned within said channel in axially spaced-apart relationship above said conveying means to protect said conveying means from falling material during a blasting operation.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2; including spring means for resiliently supporting each of said protecting plates.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2; including means mounting the particular protecting plate nearest to said leading edge for pivotal movement into and out of abutment with said scoop shoe; and means for effecting pivotal movement of said particular protecting plate into abutment with said scoop during a blasting operation and out of abutment with said scoop during a material loading operation.

5. An apparatus according to claim I; further including scooping means movably positioned on an upper portion of said channel side portions for scooping material onto said conveying means; and means for effecting movement of said scooping means along said channel assembly to a working position wherein same is operable to scoop material and to a nonworking position.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5; further including a movably mounted drilling device mounted for movement above said scooping means; and means for effecting movement of said drilling device into and out of confronting relationship with a material surface to be drilled.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1; including a set of rails mounted atop said channel side portions; a carriage assembly mounted for movement along said rails; scooping means mounted on said carriage assembly for scooping material onto said conveying means; a drilling device movably mounted on said carriage assembly; means for effecting movement of said drilling device to a working position to perform a drilling operation and to a nonwork ng position; and means locating said drilling (iUuLt! relative to said scooping means on said carriage assembly whereby a drilling operation can be carried out simultaneously with the operation of said scooping means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3; further including n. .ms defining a plurality of additional elongated channel assemblies serially connected together with said firstmentioned channel assembly to undergo advancement therewith. 

1. An excavating apparatus comprising: means defining an elongated channel assembly advanceable along an excavation site having a leading edge and a trailing edge; conveying means disposed within said channel assembly for conveying material from said leading edge to said trailing edge; material loading means for loading material onto said conveying means comprising a scoop shoe connected to a base portion of said channel assembly at said leading edge operative to scoop material thereon during advancement of said channel assembly, a pair of scraper plates pivotally connected to respective side portions of said channel assembly at said leading edge pivotable to an open position and a closed position cooperative with said scoop shoe to load material onto said conveying means, and means for effecting pivotal movement of said scraper plates between said open and closed positions to effect loading of material disposed on said scoop shoe onto said conveying means; and means for advancing said channel assembly along an excavation site.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1; including a plurality of protecting plates positioned within said channel in axially spaced-apart relationship above said conveying means to protect said conveying means from falling material during a blasting operation.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2; including spring means for resiliently supporting each of said protecting plates.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2; including means mounting the particular protecting plate nearest to said leading edge for pivotal movement into and out of abutment with said scoop shoe; and means for effecting pivotal movement of said particular protecting plate into abutment with said scoop during a blasting operation and out of abutment with said scoop during a material loading operation.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1; further including scooping means movably positioned on an upper portion of said channel side portions for scooping material onto said conveying means; and means for effecting movement of said scooping means along said channel assembly to a working position wherein same is operable to scoop material and to a nonworking position.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5; further including a movably mounted drilling device mounted for movement above said scooping means; and means for effecting movement of said drilling device into and out of confronting relationship with a material surface to be drilled.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1; including a set of rails mounted atop said channel side portions; a carriage assembly mounted for movement along said rails; scooping means mounted on said carriage assembly for scooping material onto said conveying means; a drilling device movably mounted on said carriage assembly; means for effecting movement of said drilling device to a working position to perform a drilling operation and to a nonworking position; and means locating said drilling device relative to said scooping means on said carriage assembly whereby a drilling operation can be carried out simultaneously with the operation of said scooping means.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1; further Including means defining a plurality of additional elongated channel assemblies serially connected together with said first-mentioned channel assembly to undergo advancement therewith. 